Walgreens, Libraries Team For Health-care Seminars

Orange County will be among the first in the country to host a program that merges two of America's most-trusted sources of information -- pharmacists and libraries.

Starting in November and continuing through November 2005, Walgreens pharmacists will offer seminars at libraries on topics such as Medicare drug discount cards, new medications and controlling health-care costs. Nine other library systems across the country will also participate, and health information related to the seminars will be available on library Web sites nationwide.

The American Library Association partnered with Walgreens to create "Be Well Informed @ your library" to help people feel less overwhelmed by the amount of health information available, ALA President Carla Hayden at a ceremony announcing the program Thursday at the Orlando Public Library.

Pairing pharmacists and libraries was natural, the ALA said, because surveys show that both are among the most-trusted and most-often-consulted sources of health information.

Hayden and 25,000 others are in town this weekend for the library association's annual convention.

Orange County was announced as the first host library system because the system is already progressive in its health education, Hayden said. Orlando is also an ideal area because it has a high proportion of senior citizens, who typically have a greater need for health education, she said.

"Be Well Informed @ your library" may be one of the first times the Orange County Library System has partnered with a private business for a new program or service, said director Mary Anne Hodel.

"It's happening more and more," she said. "Public funds aren't enough to do all the services we want to give back to the community."

Host libraries are eligible for up to $25,000 in funding for the program, Hayden said.